July favourites

Since I had to cut down on my blogging in June and earlier this month I haven't actually done a monthly favourites for a little while although except for the EdT I have a feeling that they would have been pretty much the same in June too. My routines have changed quite a lot over the past few months, partly because of the weather and partly because I'm on the road a lot more than I used to. Because of the sunny weather and since I love to be outdoors as much as possible to catch some rays, my main concern has been to make sure that I've been wearing some great sun lotion, and the product I've used the most is the lovely Hawaiian Tropic Sensitive Face Sun Lotion SPF30 (£12.60). It has just the right consistency for the face; light, silky and sheer without clogging up the pores and since it's for sensitive skin it's also free of oils and fragrance that could potentially cause irritation in the sun. The lotion absorbs quickly into the skin making it feel not only protected from those pesky UVA and UVB, but also moisturised and smooth. The only thing is that I don't think it's water resistant, at least it doesn't feel that way so I would definitely recommend that you re-apply several times a day, especially if you've gone for a cooling dip in the pool.

After a post sun shower to freshen up I've loved to use the Avon Shea Butter and Chocolate Truffle Body Soufflé, First of all it smells absolutely divine of chocolate mousse and even if like me you're not a chocolate lover you might find that you have to really stop yourself from testing it to check if it's as yummy as it smells.... hrmm - did I reveal too much there...? Anyway, this body product has a wonderful whipped, light and creamy texture that feels amazing on the skin, and it absorbs quickly without leaving any sensation of tackiness. What I like most about the soufflé, except for the chocolate scent is that it makes the skin ever so slightly radiant with a rose gold shine, which makes it perfect for summer use to emphasise tanned skin. As far as I know it's not available in the current Avon campaigns, but you can easily find it on eBay (£6.75), and I'll definitely stock up on it when I've finished up this one.

So the skin's looking radiant and bronzed, and since I've been on the go so much these past few months I haven't bothered with foundation or tinted moisturiser - all I've done is sweep my very used MUA Bronzer (£1) in shade 1 over my face for a natural, healthy looking glow. I know I've raved about this ridiculously affordable bronzer before - I need to start testing another brands... but for me it's just brilliant. The product is light and finely milled so it's easy to work with and to build up a stronger bronzed tone if you wish, the shade is sunny and natural without too much orange and it lasts fairly well throughout the day. I would say that you probably do need to buff up the colour after about 5 hrs, but then again considering the price, it's not the end of the world. If you haven't tried any MUA products before, this is the one to get and don't be surprised if you find yourself repurchasing it over and over again - I have, about 4 times...

Sticking with the quick and easy makeup theme, let's have a look at the the products that I have worn every single day without fail in July. I've been on a bad mascara streak, having tested several budget friendly products and not  been impressed with a single one of them, but finally there was a glimmer in the mascara dark with the  Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara (£9.99). It has just the right texture that I like and that usually doesn't come until the mascara is near it's end, i.e. it's liquid enough but a tiny bit sticky, which makes it easy to build up volume and length if you apply several coats. As with every other mascara these days it comes with a special "unique brush with spherical (and straight) bristles to wrap every lash in a 360° motion", I guess that means that the brush is supposed to make sure that you get colour on all sides of your lashes. Even though I'm not too sure about that statement, I do know that the brush is quite wide, firm and great to work with to shape the lashes for a wonderful volumised effect with luscious separated lashes. This was a complete impulse purchase, but I'm so glad that I decided to take a chance on it since it's the best mascara I've tried since I fell in love with L'Oréal's False Lash Flutter Mascara (the butterfly one). Thank you Bourjois for restoring my faith in affordable mascaras!

 

My preferred daily lippy has been Revlon's ColorBurst Matte Balm (£7.99) in Unapologetic which I recently did a review on that you can read here, so I won't go into more details about it except to say that the colour is the most perfect vibrant coral pink, perfect for a one-product look lounging by the pool. As you probably know I tend to wear different perfumes every single day to suit my mood, outfit etc so although I haven't exactly worn this gem every day, it's still a definite favourite this month. Ever since I first stumbled across Thierry Mugler's Alien EdT, I have looked forward to every new edition, and I have never been disappointed, they have all been outstanding! This season's newcomer - Alien Eau Extraordinaire EdT (£68) is no exception. As usual the bottle is very interesting with its beautifully cut angles and pale gold details for a glamorous outer space look and feel. It's a fresh, sparkling, sunny and harmonious fragrance mixing sweet Tunisian neroli, citrusy bergamot, elegant white tiare flower and warm amber. It's a very confident, poised and delightful scent and I always feel happy and pampered wearing it, and for warm sunny days - what could be more fitting than a warm sunny scent? That's the end to almost two month's of favourites... as much as I love them now I have a feeling that they won't be the same in August, but as I always say - it's a girl's prerogative to change her mind!

A scentsational afternoon at Jo Malone + Winner of International Barry M Giveaway

When I found out that Jo Malone had just opened a store at John Lewis in Southampton, I was absolutely thrilled, although my bank balance won't be - and of course I was very quick to accept an invitation to a relaxing hand and arm treatment, accompanied with some bubbly and nibbles to celebrate the opening. I'm definitely one of Jo Malone's biggest fans and was really looking forward to getting something new from their gorgeous line up of scents, ranging from the light and fruity to the aromatic and woody, and the intense and dramatic.

 

One of the main concepts of Jo Malone is that you can tailor the scents especially to you, by layering them - combining perhaps with other colognes or other products like shower gels and body lotions, to create your personal scent. In my case we decided that we would experiment with layering different scents using a bath oil, a luscious rich and deeply moisturising body crème and finally a cologne. This sounds pretty straight forward, but the intriguing twist to this is that I wouldn't know which scents we were using - it would be a blind test. We had a discussion about what type of scents I like in general, and then four different unnamed scents were chosen. I tested them separately, in combination with each other and we identified likes and dislikes.

The interesting thing was that I couldn't recognise some of the scents that I had already picked out as possible buys that day, and in some cases all of a sudden a scent wasn't as appealing to me as it had been before. 

  

This little experiment made me realise that it's not just what we actually smell that decides whether we like a scent or not, but it's also what else we know about it. E.g. if you like rose, and you have been told or know that a scent has an element of rose in it, or it might be called Red Roses or the bottle might even be in the shape of a rose, then you may have already subconsciously decided that you like the scent. But if you did a blind test with nothing else to guide you than your nose - no name of the scent, no bottle and no description, you might very well come to a different conclusion. It's fascinating when you think about it!

At the end of the afternoon I might have accidentally bought a little something with me home. So, what did I end up with after a lot of testing and consideration? - well a combination I had not expected at all... 

The bespoke combination I eventually chose was the Wild Bluebell Cologne and the White Jasmin & Mint Body Crème. As you massage in the luxurious body crème you of course pick up on the delicate, soft and feminine floral scent of the jasmine, but it's not as dominant as it can sometimes be and instead it's surprisingly fresh and light because of the exhilerating, icy cool mint. The bluebell cologne is very subtle and personally I detect more of the sweet lily of the valley and the crisp sweet but zingy persimmon than the bluebell. I had tried the bluebell cologne previously, but it had never really whispered: "I'm perfect for you - buy me", until now. In combination - the graceful jasmin, herbal mint, zesty persimmon and faint bluebell create an elegant, timeless and crisp scent. I'm so pleased with this fusion which I think could be my very own signature scent for a long time to come, and I can't stop smelling myself...

A big thank you to Jo Malone and especially the wonderful Holly for making a very rainy afternoon, an exceptionally lovely one! If you don't have any plans for the weekend, or you're looking for something fun to do with your friends - book yourself into the closest Jo Malone for a nice treatment and some perfume testing, and if you walk out of there with a bag filled with goodies - you can always blame me!

As you know I have run an international Barry M Giveaway for the past nine days to celebrate that I had reached 200 followers on both GFC and Bloglovin'. It was an amazing turnout with so many entries and I want to thank everyone who entered and sent me your details. The amount of support I have received from everyone is just fantastic and I appreciate it so very much. I'm very happy to announce that the winner is Judy Thomas. Congratulations and I hope you'll enjoy the products!

The Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Patch

There are not many things that invoke images and thoughts of autumn as much as pumpkins, and this year I've definitely indulged in all things pumpkin. I've had more spicy pumpkin lattes than I can count, I've baked some yummy spicy pumpkin cookies with cinnamon icing, carved a few scary pumpkin faces and made a delicious pumpkin & sunflower seed soup. You could say that I've been bathing in pumpkins, and actually I have - literally - using Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin products from Bath & Body Works (B&BW)! For me this is the most seasonal and delicious scent that B&BW offer from their gourmand family of good enough to eat scents.

The scent is a warm, sparkling and spicy but fresh mix of ingredients. First you'll notice fruity and juicy apples followed by zesty ginger and fragrant cinnamon. To add some depth to the fruit and spiciness you'll also find sweet vanilla, earthy sandalwood, a hint of rum and there's something else as well... ah yes, PUMPKIN.

As you may know I prefer to use a shower gel and body cream in the same fragrance because I find that the scent lasts longer when you layer them since products will enhance each other The Shower Gel feels surprisingly expensive to use because of it's silky texture and also since it contains several moisturising ingredients for a gentle clean. To me the shower gel is more fruity and sweet rather than spicy, since you can clearly pick up the note of the apples and the rum - it's a bit like showering in a delicious cocktail.

Using the Triple Moisture Body Cream after a shower really intensifies the lovely warm autumnal scent, and emphasizes the spicy pumpkin and cinnamon. The body cream is luxuriously rich, creamy and packed with moisture that makes your skin feel deeply hydrated, pampered and smooth. If I just use the shower gel and the body cream in the morning, there's still a hint of warm spice and apple that lingers later in the day, so I'm positively surprised at the longevity of this scent, and it's better than many of the B&BW products. Luckily I don't have to rely on just these two lovely body care products, since I also have the Fine Fragrance Mist as a finishing touch to this pumpkin extravaganza. Wearing all three products strengthens the different notes, and you end up with an inviting, piquant, fresh and lavish fragrance that captures the essence of autumn perfectly.

If you've read my blog previously you'll know that I have a thing for B&BW products and just can't get enough of them - which is really unfortunate considering there are no B&BW shops here in the UK. Not only do we not have any stores in the UK, but as luck would have it - they don't ship to the UK either. However the situation isn't completely hopeless because you can find a selection of B&BW products on The Bath and Body Shop website, and there is of course also good old eBay.  

Cherry pickings

July and August is cherry picking season and there's nothing like eating sun kissed cherries directly from the tree. Cherries are warm and earthy but sweet, juicy and a bit tangy at the same time - you can probably tell that I love cherries and every time I find a beauty product that is cherry scented I just have to try it.

That's exactly what happened when Batiste launched their Dry Shampoo in Cherry - I saw the cute vintage inspired bottle, read about the cherry scent and that was it for me. Dry shampoo is just one of the best inventions ever. It helps to refresh your hair and adds volume. I have long hair and using a little dry shampoo is brilliant for when I wear my hair up since it adds texture and makes it grip a little better. I always have a few dry shampoos on the go and the rich, sweet cherry scent is lovely for days when I go for a more floral or retro look. While I do like the scent, I've got to be honest and say that I still think that the best Batiste fragrances are Tropical and Blush, since they are much fresher, lighter and easier to wear together with other scented products. 

Rituals is a fabulous brand founded in 2000 that you don't see mentioned that often. I love their concept of spa inspired beauty and home product ranges. They even sell casual, comfortable clothes - perfect for a spa evening at home! The product ranges take inspiration from Eastern rituals, e.g. Ayurveda, Hammam and Tao and they all smell amazing. They come in sleek and contemporary, stylish packaging at very reasonable prices if you compare with other similar brands.

My favourite ritual is without a doubt Sakura which uses cherry blossom. There is a very rich symbolism surrounding cherry blossoms and some aspects of it are love and happiness, but it's also a reminder of mortality and re-awakening. I've always wanted to go to Japan to see the beautiful palaces and temples, Mount Fuji and for hanami - picknicking under the blossoming cherry trees. How beautiful!

I have a travel size set of cherry blossom body products that I absolutely adore and use sparingly. I'll start with the Zensation Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk Shower Foam which is a gorgeous silky gel that turns into a rich foam under the shower. The foam gently cleanses the body at the same time as it nourishes the skin through the rice milk and of course you'll get that wonderful, soft, musky and sweet cherry smell. The perfect match with Zensation is the Magic Touch Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk Body Cream. It contains vitamin E, rice milk and centella that are all ingredients that perform miracles on dry or dehydrated skin. I absolutely love the formula of this body cream - it's simply lovely, thick and creamy and it just melts into the skin with very little massaging needed, leaving it silky and moisturised for several hrs afterwards. The cherry scent from the shower foam is quite subtle but when you layer that with the body cream, you get a really nice and noticeable fresh, sugary and creamy cherry scent that lingers.

I was on the hunt for a cherry scent that I thought would finish off the ritual nicely and I was choosing between the Cherry Blossom Water, or Escada's Cherry In the Air. But since I enjoy Rituals cherry body care products so much, I actually blind bought the body mist online. It's marketed as a relaxing body mist and it is similar to the creamy, sugary scent of the shower foam and body cream, however it has much heavier, deeper and sweeter notes than the other products.

I always give balanced and honest feedback on products, and unfortunately Blossom Water didn't meet my expectations. I did buy it blind (only got myself to blame), but here are some words from the description - relaxing and refreshing. Both of them make me think: Light, crisp and possibly a tiny bit aromatic or herbal. Instead Cherry Blossom is warm, powdery, with just a hint of vanilla and spice - it reminds me SOOO much of Cacharel's Lou Lou, which is a lovely statement perfume (far too heavy for me though) but I don't think anyone could possibly describe it as relaxing and refreshing. All in all, the Cherry Blossom Water is a nice, warm, rich and extravagant cherry fragrance, but you might want to be careful with it in a warmer climate, and although I personally don't usually categorize scents into day or evening wear - this one would be perfect as a sumptuous addition to a gorgeous evening outfit for some oriental mystique.

One of the best cherry fragrances I've ever come across is actually in a candle - Yankee Candle in Black Cherry. It's such a delicious, genuine cherry smell that captures both the sweetness of ripe cherries but also the tartness, making this a fresh, light and piquant scent. It is yummy enough to eat, and I can't stop sniffing the candle, even if it's not actually lit. I've got the tumbler candle with the brushed metal lid, which should give about 35 - 45 hrs of fragrance, but if like me you adore this - you can also find Black Cherry as a large jar candle which should give you up to 150 hrs of pure cherry bliss!

Until I'm fortunate enough to visit Japan, I'll just have to surround myself with the gorgeous smell of cherries, and keep on dreaming of cherry blossom season. Sayonara!